Report: These 20 companies are paying poverty wages

A new report from the Institute for Policy Studies dubs 20 companies the “Low-Wage 20,” which includes retail giants like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Kroger.

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Over the last 50 years, the chasm between average worker pay and CEO compensation has cracked wide open. Between 1978 and 2024, chief executive pay spiked by 1,094%, according to the Economic Policy Institute—which means the average CEO earns 281 times the average worker. 

A new report from the Institute for Policy Studies, a progressive research organization, captures how this disparity persists across some of the largest companies in the country and how the low-wage workers they employ are forced to rely on public benefits. 

The report drew on the S&P 500 and tallied a list of 20 companies that have been dubbed the “Low-Wage 20,” which includes some of the usual suspects from the retail and grocery sectors, from Amazon and Walmart to Target and Kroger. The following employers round out the full list: Autozone, Best Buy, Chipotle, Costco, Darden Restaurants, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, FedEx, Home Depot, Lowe’s, MGM Resorts, O’Reilly Automotive, Ross Stores, Starbucks, TJX, and Tyson Foods. 

“Amazon pay is among the best in the industry—well over double the federal minimum wage and significantly more than other retailers,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. “Pointing fingers at Amazon over SNAP and/or Medicaid is a red herring when eligibility is based on total household income and size—and not individual wages. For example, two employees who work at the same site and earn identical pay in the same state can have completely different SNAP or Medicaid eligibility depending on whether they support children, elderly parents, or are the sole earner in their household.”

“As we’ve said for years, what really needs to happen is a significant and large increase in the federal minimum wage—that would be a big boost for American families,” the spokesperson continued.

In a statement, a Starbucks spokesperson said the company “offers the best job in retail, backed by competitive pay, industry‑leading benefits, and strong career growth opportunities.”

“Partners working just 20 hours a week receive comprehensive healthcare, Bean Stock equity grants, and full tuition coverage, and all partners are eligible for our company‑matched 401(k),” the spokesperson added. “Our approach is reflected in the fact that partners stay with Starbucks at far higher rates than the retail average, and more than a million people apply each year to join our team.”

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